Smith Lake Fishing in King County, Washington

• Overview

  Smith Lake is one of the King County waters in Washington. The ground round it is farm and woodlot. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our King County list holds plenty of bigger water. 17 miles away sits Tanner, the nearest town. For a city, Bellevue is 36 miles off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name Chum salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and yellow perch. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Smith Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 57°F on average, December about 27°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Time your trip to Smith Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Dream Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Smith Lake are worth checking on the day.